Archived: Stamford Dental Care

We carried out this announced inspection on 22 June 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Stamford Dental Care is in Stamford, a town in the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. It provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice building has step access and some measures have been taken to enable people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs ease of entry into the premises. The practice premises is a grade two listed building which restricts modifications being made. Car parking is not available on site, but public parking is available within short walking distance of the practice. This includes spaces for disabled badge holders.

The provider informed us they were planning to move premises by the end of 2017 to a purpose built premises. This location is close to the existing premises.

The dental team includes five dentists, eight dental nurses (including four trainee nurses), three dental hygienists and four receptionists. One of the receptionists also undertakes the role of stock manager. The dental nurses also undertake receptionist duties. The practice employs a practice manager and practice administrator. The practice has four treatment rooms, all on the ground floor.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we collected 42 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with four dentists, three dental nurses, one receptionist, the practice administrator and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5.30pm and on Saturday 9am to 4pm by appointment only.

Our key findings were:

• The practice ethos included the provision of high quality dental care including examinations, treatment and the promotion of good oral health to all their patients.
• Effective leadership from practice management was evident.
• Staff had been trained to deal with emergencies and appropriate medicines and life saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected current published guidance.
• The practice had effective processes in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.
• The practice had adopted a process for the reporting and shared learning when untoward incidents occurred in the practice.
• Clinical staff provided dental care in accordance with current professional and National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.
• The practice were aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account when delivering the service.
• Patients had access to treatment and urgent and emergency care when required.
• Staff received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD) by the practice.
• Staff we spoke with felt supported by the provider and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
• Review the protocols and procedures for use of X-ray equipment taking into account Guidance Notes for Dental Practitioners on the Safe Use of X-ray Equipment.